Salman Rushdie Visits St. Louis

St. Louis – Indian-born novelist Salman Rushdie was in St. Louis yesterday to talk about his writing and his views on religious violence.

Rushdie went into hiding after the Iranian government put a price on his head following the publication of his 1989 novel, The Satanic Verses.

Rushdie says religious fanaticism gives people permission to do things they would not otherwise do. "The thing I've always feared the most is people who feel they've got a complete explanation of the world, and if you don't agree with them, you're basically wrong," said Rushdie. "And it's a small step from that towards violence; it's not a big step."

The edict against Rushdie was lifted four years ago. He now lives in New York.